If marriage is not a sacrament, why does the Bible say, "God hates divorce?" If it is just a civic agreement for two people to live together, why does God care?
I was a Lutheran, but I could never understand how the English could accept the actions of Henry VIII. This is one of the main reasons I became a Catholic.
Well, in Henry VIII's defense (not that there was really much to defend), a lot of people want to blame the whole English reformation on his divorce. Frankly, I don't think that's entirely fair. Rome and the landed gentry in England had been having a political cold war for centuries, going back to the Pope backing the Norman conquest of England in 1066.
As for the English accepting the actions of Henry VIII, I personally can't judge them too harshly. He was a dictator that said do it my way or go to the tower and get tortured and killed. I don't think most people, if faced with that, would think twice about following Caesar.
And there was a period between Henry VIII's 3rd and 4th wife that he could have been reunited with the church and gotten married in the Church, granted if some public penance had been exacted. There was a 3 year period when he had no living wife. (The first had died, probably of cancer, he'd had the 2nd executed, the 3rd had died in child birth.) I am virtually certain if Henry VIII had wanted to go back to Rome, the Pope would have jumped at the chance to keep England catholic.
I understand what you are saying. It's complicated. This is why I like Pope Francis' devotion to "Mary, Undoer of Knots." My favorite saint is Thomas More. I am sure I would have renounced the Catholic Faith if I were in his shoes.
For some weeks, I have had several friends (mostly non-Episcopalians surprisingly) wanting me to voice an opinion on this Connecticut 6 (sounds like a fleabag motel) business. If you are unfamiliar with this fiasco, for lack of a better term, let me describe it as best as I understand it. There is so much spin going on (from both sides I might add) that I have been having trouble discerning fact from fiction. As I understand the situation, the Rt. Rev. Andrew Smith is the Bishop of Connecticut. Well, at least he has a pointy hat, I do not think he is particularly acting like one. Likewise, as I understand, there are Six rectors of churches (at least they have collars, but likewise are not acting like it) that have applied for DEPO oversight (i.e. another Bishop to oversee them.) The best way I know how to describe the hoohah is as follows: The Feloniously Rev. Smith is trying to defrock the Superciliously Reverend Rectors. Darth Smith claims they have abandoned communion and has shadil
NCAA.com put out an interesting editorial about the evolution of the football helmet that can be found here . This is in part due in my estimation to the current buzz (one might go so far as to describe it as hysteria) about concussions in contact sports, particularly football. I have always found this an interesting evolution. Long gone are the days of strapping on your leather helmet: In the 50's and 60's, the helmet evolved into, basically becoming a metal then hard plastic version of the leather helmet with the addition of a rudimentary face mask (which was really just a bar at first): Gradually, the helmet's face mask itself began to evolve: Combines with new space age style lightweight plastics and foams, the helmet mask ultimately became a type of full, goalie style face mask (This little number costs just under $1000 to purchase new): Ironically, being a military history major, the football helmet evolution followed the pattern of design that helmets worn
Many churches often have Stewardship Renewal drives around this time of year, with St. Michael’s beginning its drive in mid-October. Talks or homilies on stewardship during this time of year often utilize the imagery of the fall harvest season because stewardship is often a time to take stock of God’s bounty-both spiritually and materially-and plan accordingly as to how much a family or individual is willing to commit to giving to the parish in the coming year of their time, talent, and treasure. The Mass readings today are picked in part to reinforce that theme of the importance of giving to God’s work through the church out of the bounty God has given to us. The question in the back of some people’s minds as they listen to stewardship appeals often is not touched upon in depth by the preacher or speaker discussing the importance of stewardship, however. That question is best summed up as, “If God is all powerful, why does He need my money?” The readings today beaut
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As for the English accepting the actions of Henry VIII, I personally can't judge them too harshly. He was a dictator that said do it my way or go to the tower and get tortured and killed. I don't think most people, if faced with that, would think twice about following Caesar.
And there was a period between Henry VIII's 3rd and 4th wife that he could have been reunited with the church and gotten married in the Church, granted if some public penance had been exacted. There was a 3 year period when he had no living wife. (The first had died, probably of cancer, he'd had the 2nd executed, the 3rd had died in child birth.) I am virtually certain if Henry VIII had wanted to go back to Rome, the Pope would have jumped at the chance to keep England catholic.